My wife and I were given the opportunity to attend this year’s General Conference of Elders. We left Bacolod on the first week of May bound for Manila, our first stopover before the 13-hour flight to Los Angeles, California. After our US visa was checked by the immigration officials—and many hours of waiting—we left the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) at 10:00 p.m. and arrived Los Angeles on the same date, May 2, at 7:30 in the evening.

Arriving Los Angeles, we were met by my wife’s relatives and stayed with them for the night. The next day, we had the opportunity to visit Universal Studios and had a whole pleasant day going around the place. After dinner that evening, we flew to Anchorage, Alaska, accompanied by our niece, who works for Alaska Airlines. We were accommodated at the first class section for free.

After five hours, we reached Anchorage, where most of our relatives are working. We were taken to a number of places where we saw glaciers and snow-capped mountains.

After three days in Anchorage, we took a flight to Seattle, Washington. We were met by Jill Stefanin and Karen Javier, two of our friends in the area and members of the Seattle congregation.

On May 7, Sabbath, I was privileged to address the Seattle congregation, sharing a split message with Dennis Luker, pastor of the area.

Our stay in Seattle with the Javiers, Stefanins, and the Reisdorffs was one of the highlights of our lives. We experienced the real love and concern of our brethren from another country. We felt the warmth, affection, and sincere desire to help their less fortunate brethren in the best way they can, particularly those whom they have known from their previous observance of the Feast of Tabernacles here in the Philippines.

Our heartfelt thanks and admiration go to Gilbert Javier and his lovely wife, Karen, who warmly shared their home with us during our six-day stay in Seattle. They have gone out of their way to give us the best they could offer.

On May 12, at 4:00 a.m., Gilbert and Karen took us to the airport for our trip to Cincinnati for the conference that will start the next day. After we checked-in at the Holiday Inn Hotel, the venue of the GCE, we met with other ministers who converged in one hotel room for fellowshipping. It was a wonderful feeling to be among people who have the same purpose, responsibilities, and goal in life. For me, it was like a reunion of a big happy family.

We were privileged to be among the 562 who attended Sabbath service the next day, May 14. The message given by outgoing UCG President Roy Holladay, showed the accomplishment and progress of the work done by the church for the last decade.

The message of the new president of the church, Clyde Kilough, was very moving and was an inspiration to everyone. He encouraged the people of God, especially those who are in the ministry, to seize the vision for the next decade and realize what can be accomplished if we all worked together in unity and harmony. As his first agenda as president, Mr. Kilough asked the membership of UCG for a day of fasting for the work of the Church. In his message, Mr. Kilough cited lessons from the book of Nehemiah, especially chapter 4:19-20.

On May 15, Sunday, we had the opportunity to hear the international reports from different ministers serving the work of the church in areas outside the United States. Mr. David Baker gave his report for the Far East including the Philippines.

The General Conference of Elders 2005 and the honor to be there in person reminds me of what God has promised—even though how insignificant you are in the eyes of those who can’t see your dedication and faithfulness to God, He will make you stand before dignitaries and men of high status in life.
On the national scope, after the conference, we were privileged to be invited to attend the United Youth Camp at Eden Nature Park in Davao. This year, we had 40 campers and 32 staff who enjoyed the cool climate and fine weather for seven days in the camp.

Among the activities which highlighted the camp were the Christian Living classes, sports and outdoor activities, and workshops. These and the camaraderie that the campers could not have felt outside the church made the camp a very fine learning experience. As in the previous years, when the camp ended, there were tears and sad moments for the young people who didn’t want to see friends leaving them. All were wishing to see each other again.

We were in Sabang, Leyte on June 11-12 for the Sabbath service and the combined services for Pentecost. Attendance for the Day of Pentecost was 63 including three visitors who attended for the first time. A couple who are members of the Bible Believing Christian Fellowship from Hilongos town attended and were satisfied to hear the significance of the Day of Pentecost and the exact date to keep it explained from the Scriptures.

In Bacolod, two new families comprising six people have started attending services. They are the Verde and Cainglet families.